The impact of storage, desiccation and planting date on seedling quality and survival of woody plant species

Abstract

A comparative study of nine tree species was carried out to investigate the effects of ambient storage, desiccation and planting date on seedling quality. The ability of plant morphological and physiological indicators to detect damage and predict field performance after out-planting was also tested. After lifting from the nursery bed, plants were either stored under ambient conditions or subjected to desiccation for 3 h, and seedling condition was assessed by measuring fine root electrolyte leakage, fine root moisture content, root moisture content, shoot moisture content and shoot water potential. Treated and control seedlings were planted in the experimental fields. Ambient storage affected the pre-planting vitality indicators of some species, but no consistent and significant effects were found in survival between the control and stored planting stock. Pre-planting measurements showed a significant effect of treatments on plant condition. Desiccation adversely affected the physiological parameters and survival of most plants. Seedlings planted in March showed reduced survival compared with those planted in February. Pre-planting measurements were related to spring survival means but the results were very poor in autumn when survival was very low.